Device for controlling an inflow of metal by means of a stopper

Abstract

In a device for controlling a flow of metal from a casting vessel into a casting mould, the inflow of metal is to be controlled by means of a stopper, which may be lifted and lowered according to a preset program and/or by means of a bath-level measuring device. In order to prevent any manual operation of a control lever for the stopper, a lifting rod for the stopper is disposed in a module box together with a vertical guide and a computer-controlled electromechanical drive for the lifting rod. The module box is exchangeably fastened to the casting vessel by clamping elements. Before casting begins, a drive motor for the stopper (13) is to be connected by means of electric plug-and-socket connections to a control cabinet. From the start of casting, the stopper movement is controllable exclusively by means of the electric drive.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device for controlling a closure of a casting vessel, comprising a container, said container being provided with connecting means for releasably connecting said container to the casting vessel; guide means for said closure disposed in said container; and an electrical drive for said closure disposed in said container, said drive being provided with means for plugging said drive into a source of electrical control signals. 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a guide member defining a guide passage, and a rod receivable in said guide passage. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for pressurizing said container. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3, wherein said pressurizing means comprises means for admitting cooling air into said container. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 4, wherein said guide means defines a flow passage for the cooling air. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises means for suspending said container on the casting vessel. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a guide member defining a guide passage, and a rod receivable in said guide passage, said drive including a drive shaft which is substantially parallel to said rod; and further comprising means for transmitting force between said shaft and said rod, said transmitting means comprising a screw. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a handwheel which is releasably connectible to said screw. 
     
     
       9. A casting installation, comprising a casting vessel having at least one outlet; at least one closure for said one outlet; an electrical power supply including a source of electrical control signals; and at least one device for controlling said closure, said device comprising a container provided with connecting means for releasably connecting said container to said casting vessel, guide means for said closure disposed in said container, and an electrical drive for said closure disposed in said container, said source and said drive being provided with complementary plugs and sockets for electrically coupling said source and said drive to one another. 
     
     
       10. The installation of claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a guide member defining a guide passage, and a rod receivable in said guide passage. 
     
     
       11. The installation of claim 9, wherein said casting vessel has a plurality of outlets and a closure is provided for each of said outlets, each of said closures being controlled by a respective device similar or identical to said one device. 
     
     
       12. The installation of claim 11, wherein said casting vessel has 2 to 8 outlets. 
     
     
       13. The installation of claim 9, further comprising means for pressurizing said container. 
     
     
       14. The installation of claim 13, wherein said pressurizing means comprises means for admitting cooling air into said container. 
     
     
       15. The installation of claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a guide member defining a guide passage, and a rod receivable in said guide passage; and further comprising a carrier arm for said one closure and said rod, said rod and said carrier arm defining a flow passage for the cooling air. 
     
     
       16. The installation of claim 9, wherein said connecting means is designed to connect said container to said vessel with an air gap between said container and said vessel. 
     
     
       17. The installation of claim 9, wherein said connecting means comprises means for suspending said container on said vessel. 
     
     
       18. The installation of claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a guide member defining a guide passage, and a rod receivable in said guide passage, said drive including a drive shaft which is substantially parallel to said rod; and further comprising means for transmitting force between said shaft and said rod, said transmitting means comprising a screw. 
     
     
       19. The installation of claim 18, further comprising a handwheel which is releasably connectible to said screw. 
     
     
       20. The installation of claim 9, wherein said power supply comprises a detector for power failures. 
     
     
       21. The installation of claim 9, wherein said one closure has an open position and a closed position, said power supply comprising sufficient capacitance to move said one closure from said open position to said closed position when said one closure is in said open position upon occurrence of a power failure. 
     
     
       22. The installation of claim 9, wherein said vessel has a predetermined height, said guide means comprising a substantially vertical guide member deeming a guide passage, and a receivable in said guide passage, said guide member including a plurality of superimposed ball bearings and having a length of about 50 to about 80 percent of said predetermined height. 
     
     
       23. The installation of claim 22, wherein said length is about 70 to about 80 percent of said predetermined height. 
     
     
       24. The installation of claim 9, wherein said one closure comprises a stopper rod; and further comprising an additional closure for said one outlet, said additional closure including a slide provided with a sealing block. 
     
     
       25. The installation of claim 24, further comprising drive means for said slide, said drive means including a piston-and-cylinder unit and a source of pressurized fluid for said unit.